Translated from Portuguese. The Portuguese version prevails. Ler em português
Dear Children, present here and representing all the Children of Angola;
Your Excellency, Minister of State and Head of the Civil Office of the President of the Republic (representing the President of the Republic);
Your Excellency, President of the National Assembly;
Honourable President of the Supreme Court;
Honourable President of the Court of Auditors;
Honourable President of the Supreme Military Court;
Honourable Justices of the Constitutional Court;
Honourable retired President of the Supreme Court;
Distinguished Attorney General of the Republic;
Distinguished Ombudsman;
Members of the Executive;
Secretary-General, Judicial Secretary, Distinguished Directors and other officials and staff of the Constitutional Court;
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Guests. Welcome, all of you, to the Palace of Justice.
“All actions relating to the Child, whether carried out by public or private institutions, Courts, Administrative Authorities or legislative bodies, must give primary consideration to the best interests of the Child”. Cf. Article 3(1) of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In keeping with the now traditional activity of celebrating the anniversary of the entry into force of the Constitution of the Republic of Angola, which took place on 5 February 2010, the Constitutional Court has chosen for this year the theme “The Protection of the Rights of the Child”.
The protection of children is a project for society, and the Constitutional Court, as the institution responsible for safeguarding the fundamental rights, freedoms and guarantees of citizens, within the framework of giving effect to the right to legal information and with a view to broadening the constitutional literacy of families, the State and society on this subject, as they are the main actors in the process, decided to bring this topic up for discussion.
The family is the first and main guarantor of the realisation of the Rights of the Child. Indeed, the family itself, as a social organisation, is in itself a “miniature state”.
As part of the activities planned to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the CRA, today we will launch the children's Constitution in comic-strip form and the Constitution translated into national languages.
In this way, the Constitutional Court intends to step up the promotion of constitutional literacy among children and young people, as well as among all cultural strata, in the field of national languages, thereby disseminating the scope of the Constitution so as to make it known, strengthening citizenship and the Democratic State based on the Rule of Law.
With these two initiatives, we intend to continue making the Constitution an important symbol of national unity, a channel of communication and of sincere and functional dialogue between the Institutions and the society in which they operate, without marginalising anyone.
This aim is also a challenge of our times, since the Constitution is, first and foremost, a project for society, which defines all its aspirations, whether political, social, economic, cultural, environmental or other, provided they are supported or guaranteed by the principles of the democratic State based on the rule of law.
With these brief words, I welcome everyone present.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED FOR BEING HERE.